Africa · Pakistan
Lesotho
Lesotho visit visa for Pakistan passport holders
VisitVisaInfo Editorial Team
Guides built from official government and embassy sources.
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Lesotho · Maletsunyane Falls · BagelBelt · Public domain
Summary
- Visa type
- Lesotho entry visa approved in advance by the Ministry of Home Affairs, issued as a 72-hour visa-on-arrival letter
- Stay limit
- As granted on entry
- Entries
- Single or multiple entry
The official country table published by the Embassy of Lesotho marks Pakistan “YES”: citizens always require a visa to enter the Kingdom of Lesotho. The Government of Lesotho’s visa charter adds a Pakistan-specific condition, a South African transit visa, because most routes into Lesotho pass through South Africa. Visas are processed by the Ministry of Home Affairs in Lesotho, not at embassies. Your sponsor can apply in person, or you can email the documents to visa-applications.immigration@gov.ls. An approved visa arrives as a 72-hour visa-on-arrival letter valid only at Maseru Port of Entry or Moshoeshoe I International Airport.
Lesotho, the mountain kingdom completely surrounded by South Africa, is known for pony trekking, the Maletsunyane Falls, the Sani Pass and the ski slopes of Afriski. Pakistani citizens need a visa, approved in advance by the Ministry of Home Affairs in Maseru.
The official visa table published by the Embassy of Lesotho marks Pakistan “YES”, the category for citizens who always require a visa. The Government of Lesotho’s service charter adds a condition that applies only to Pakistan and Bangladesh: applicants must hold a South African transit visa.
Lesotho embassies do not issue visas. Instead, your host can apply in person at the Ministry of Home Affairs, or you email the documents to the immigration visa address. A tourist file includes application letters from you and your sponsor, an itinerary, hotel booking, bank statements, a medical report and medical insurance.
The fee is M1,000 for a single entry and M2,000 for multiple entries. The government charter quotes 3 to 5 working days, while the embassy allows up to ten. Approved applicants receive a 72-hour visa-on-arrival letter by email instead of a stamped passport.
With that letter, entry is allowed only through Maseru Port of Entry or Moshoeshoe I International Airport, so plan your route through South Africa accordingly. The embassy also asks for an employer letter, and a yellow fever certificate for travellers coming from infected areas.
Checklist
Document requirements
- Pakistani passport valid at least six months, with a South African transit or re-entry visa
- Formal application letter from you, addressed to the Director of Immigration
- Application letter or invitation letter from your sponsor in Lesotho
- Completed visa application form
- Copy of the passport
- Itinerary and travelling plan
- Confirmation of hotel bookings or other accommodation
- Three months of bank statements, or a valid debit or credit card with enough funds for the stay
- Letter from your employer showing position, salary, length of service and authorised leave
- Medical report on your fitness to travel
- Medical insurance
- Yellow fever certificate if travelling from an infected area
- Visa fee: M1,000 single entry or M2,000 multiple entry
In the Government of Lesotho visa charter, only Pakistan and Bangladesh are singled out for a South African transit visa, which appears in the tourist, visitor, business, expatriate and other categories. Apply for the South African visa first, because Lesotho expects to see it with your application.
Checklist source: gov.ls, lesothoemb-usa.gov.ls
Money and time
Fees and timeline
Fees
Official fee
M1,000 (LSL)
The Government of Lesotho service charter for issuance of entry visas lists M1,000 (Maloti) for a single-entry visa and M2,000 for a multiple-entry visa for tourists. The Embassy of Lesotho in Washington gives the same amounts for normal or regular passports. Diplomatic and official passport holders receive visas free of charge.
Fee source
Timeline
Processing and appointments
The Government of Lesotho service charter gives 3 to 5 working days for entry visas, while the Embassy of Lesotho in Washington says processing takes a maximum of ten working days. If approved, a 72-hour visa-on-arrival letter is emailed to you.
Official links
How to apply
You will leave VisitVisaInfo for an official government or designated VAC website.
- GovernmentGovernment of Lesotho: issuance of entry visa (service charter for non-citizens)Applications by email: visa-applications.immigration@gov.lsgov.ls
- Eligibility checkEmbassy of Lesotho, Washington: countries whose citizens require a visa (Pakistan = YES), requirements and feeslesothoemb-usa.gov.ls
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Official statistics
Visa ratio
Not officially published
Lesotho does not publish an approval or refusal rate for Pakistani visa applicants.
A percentage is shown only when an official source published one for this route. Blog tables and estimates are left out.
Quick answers
FAQ
Do Pakistanis need a visa for Lesotho?
Yes. The official country table marks Pakistan “YES”, meaning citizens always require a visa to enter the Kingdom of Lesotho.
Why do I need a South African visa for Lesotho?
The Government of Lesotho asks Pakistani and Bangladeshi applicants for a South African transit visa, since travellers normally reach Lesotho through South Africa.
Can I apply at a Lesotho embassy?
No. The embassy says it does not issue visas. Applications are handled manually by the Ministry of Home Affairs in Lesotho.
How do I apply then?
Ask your host or inviting organisation in Lesotho to apply for you at the Ministry of Home Affairs, or email the documents to visa-applications.immigration@gov.ls.
How much does a Lesotho visa cost?
M1,000 for a single entry and M2,000 for multiple entries, according to the government charter and the embassy fee table.
How long does processing take?
The government charter states 3 to 5 working days; the embassy allows up to ten working days.
What do I receive if the visa is approved?
A 72-hour visa-on-arrival letter by email, which lets you enter the country.
Where can I enter Lesotho?
Only through Maseru Port of Entry or Moshoeshoe I International Airport when travelling on the visa-on-arrival letter.
What money proof is required?
Three months of bank statements, or a valid debit or credit card with enough funds for your stay.
Are a medical report and insurance compulsory?
Yes. Both are listed for tourist applications, together with your itinerary and hotel booking.
What if I am visiting friends or family?
Apply as a visitor. Your sponsor adds an invitation letter, a passport copy and residence permit if not a citizen, and the file includes a return ticket and three months of bank statements showing about M10,000.
Who should my application letter be addressed to?
To the Director of Immigration. The embassy lists a formal application letter requesting a visa as the first document in the file.
What does a business visitor need?
The government charter lists an invitation letter from the sponsor, the sponsor’s trader’s licence, tax clearance, passport copy and sworn declaration, plus a South African transit visa for Pakistani applicants.
Is the multiple-entry visa worth it?
If you plan to leave Lesotho and come back through South Africa during your trip, a multiple-entry visa at M2,000 avoids a second application. Otherwise the M1,000 single entry is enough.
Is there an official approval rate for Pakistanis?
No. Lesotho does not publish an approval or refusal rate for Pakistani applicants.
Checked against
Official sources
- Government of Lesotho: issuance of entry visa, service charter for non-citizenswww.gov.ls/eservice/format-for-non-citizens-service-delivery-charter/
- Embassy of the Kingdom of Lesotho in the USA: visa applicationswww.lesothoemb-usa.gov.ls/visa/
Last checked 23 October 2026. Rules change without notice, so confirm on the official pages before you apply or travel.
Compare with other countries: Visa-free, visa on arrival and eVisa countries for Pakistanis · Visa fees for Pakistani passports, country by country
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